KHF runs riding camp over March break
By Jon Yaneff

Camille McQueen, 15, of Robert F. Hall Secondary School and Martin Nash, 11, of Brampton tend Hayley at the Caledon Equestrian School, which in part of the Kids and Horses Foundation.

"There is something about the outside of a horse, that is good for the inside of a man." - Sir Winston Churchill.

Churchill might just as well have been referring to Caledon-based, non-profit organizations, such as the Kids and Horses Foundation (KHF), which is dedicated to giving children whose families lack the financial resources, the opportunity to learn about horses.

The Kids and Horses Foundation has a riding camp during March break next week (March 10 to 14).

The camp is run in conjunction with the Caledon Centre for Recreation and Wellness, as well as the Town of Caledon, and riding events are held at the Caledon Equestrian School (at 13441 Airport Rd. near King Street). The school is run by Susan Fripp and her certified instructors in training.

KHF usually has about 40 children during March break and summer events, but there's always room for more. The organization supplies helmets to the children involved.

"The bottom line is it's great to be a part of the experience," said Fripp.

They also offer weekly riding lessons, as well as seven weeks of summer riding camps, which take place in July and August.

Jane Lyndon, a member of the board of directors at the Kids and Horses Foundation, said the children (age eight to 18) usually come from organizations such as Big Brothers and Big Sisters, Caledon Community Services, Peel Wrap Around and other social services, but they are willing to accept any children if they pass the foundation's criteria.

"What we're finding is the foundation typically helps children with emotional problems," said Lyndon. "This program also teaches them to work together, as well as if they treat the horses poorly they get treated the same way, so there's many life lessons the children learn here."

Lyndon said the programs teach children to take care of horses, as they groom them, and put on their saddles and bridles. They also learn how to walk, trot, canter, bend, stop and backup with the horse. As the lessons develop, they work on techniques such as dressage and side-stepping.

Lyndon added that if the children progress and do extremely well in their riding lessons then they could qualify for scholarships that foundation pays for. This allows them to pursue college and receive their necessary skills.

"Some kids do better than others by receiving ribbons, but as long as they continue to improve we try to help them."

The Kids and Horses Foundation started September 2005, and upon its inception received an Ontario Trillium Foundation Grant. Since then they have become a registered charity and receive funding from luncheons, garage sales and donations from friends and acquaintances, as well as a successful mail-out that was sent last fall, asking people for donations.

KHF's next major fundraiser is their popular annual May Spring Barn Sale Extravaganza, which is May 3 at 10 a.m. at KHF's head office of Coffee Creek Farm at 17886 The Gore Rd., in Caledon.

Anyone interested in participating with the Kids and Horses Foundation can contact either Diana Wronski at (905) 584-5838 or KHF's registered number at (905) 880-8711 or email them at info@kidsandhorses.ca